Counterweight positioning means



Oct. 30, 1962 HOYT 3,061,034

COUNTERWEIGHT POSITIONING MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. DERYL R. HOYT BY//MM ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1962 D. R. HOYT COUNTERWEIGHT POSITIONING MEANS 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 29, 1960 PIC-3.9

INVENTOR. DERYL R. HOYT ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1962 D. R. HOYT COUNTERWEIGHT POSITIONING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1960 FIG. 7

FIG. 6

INVENTOR. DERYL R. HOYT /K aim I ATTORNEY trite fates atent 3,061,034 COUNTERWEIGHT POSITIONING MEANS Deryl R. Hoyt, Battle Creek, Mich, assignor to Clark Equipment Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 72,420 21 Claims. ((31. 180--68.5)

This invention relates to counterweight positioning means for certain classes of vehicles, and more partic ularly to means for adjusting the position of lift truck counterweights.

Heretofore in the design of counterbalanced type industrial lift trucks it has been the practice to provide a different size and design of frame for each minor variance of lift truck carrying capacity, as well as for varying customer application requirements with respect to each lift truck model of a given capacity. As is apparent to persons skilled in the art, relatively minor differences in carrying capacity as between different models of lift trucks can be compensated by providing a counterweight mass which is increased as carrying capacity increases, and/ or locating the counterweight a further distance rearwardly of the truck as said capacity increases. The latter approach, of course, results in increasing the moment arm through which the counterweight acts to counterbalance a load carried on the fork or other load engaging means ahead of the usual lifting mast of the truck. In addition, as customer application requirements vary with respect to electric lift trucks, for example, it becomes necessary to provide for any given capacity truck, batteries of substantially diiferent storage capacity, and therefore size, thereby necessitating use of a different truck frame size for each battery size.

Prior to the present invention it has been necessary for lift truck manufacturers to design and maintain a relatively large inventory of different frame parts so that the many variations in customer requirements could be readily satisfied. While this approach has afforded a solution to the problem, it has inherent disadvantages which include the size of inventory of parts, engineering drawings, design time, and the like, as well as increasing the cost to the customer. The present invention affords a remarkably eifective, yet simple, construction which avoids all the afore-mentioned disadvantages by permitting the use of standardized parts and frame design which cover a rather wide range of customer application requirements, as well as permitting use of a given truck in applications involving variation in truck carrying capacity.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is therefore to provide a standardized lift truck frame construction which is adjustable to provide for the use of various sizes of batteries and fuel tanks, for example, in electric and gas industrial trucks, respectively.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable standard frame design for lift trucks such that the counterweight thereof can be located in a plurality of different positions longitudinally of the truck.

An addition-a1 object is to provide a relatively low-cost, adjustable counterweight installation utilizing interchangeable parts.

A feature of my invention provides increasing counterbalancing moment as the counterweight is adjusted rearwardly of the truck to provide a frame of increasing size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable frame for vehicles.

Another object is to improve generally upon lift truck frame construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In a preferred form of the invention I provide a removable auxiliary -frame member having vertical and hori- Patented Oct. 30, 1962 zontal leg portions which form a generally L-shaped member. This L-shaped frame member may be selectively disposed relative to the fixed or main frame of the vehicle so that the horizontal leg portion thereof is secured in either of two positions to a rearwardly extending portion of the main frame. In one position of the auxiliary frame member the vertical leg portion is disposed toward the main frame and in the other position it is disposed away from the frame. In lift truck applications, the counterweight is attached to the truck by means of three bolt and threaded bushing assemblies. Two of the said assemblies connect the counterweight to the vertical leg portion of the L-sh-aped frame member and the remaining assembly connects it to a rear vertical main frame member. By employing two different lengths of threaded bushings and two different lengths of bolts it is possible to obtain four different longitudinal positions of the counterweight relative to the main frame of the truck by using various combinations of threaded bushings and bolts in combination with the L-shaped frame member located in either of the two positions described above.

\For exemplary purposes only, I will hereinafter describe my invention as it is used in electric type lift trucks, although it should be clearly understood that the invention is in no sense intended to be restricted to such exemplary use.

Now, in order to understand more clearly my invention, reference should be had to the detailed description below taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates an electric lift truck of the counterbalanced type which uilizes this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken-away partial side section showing the rear portion of the main frame of the truck of FIGURE 1 with the counterweight mounted thereon in a first adjusted position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are partial views of the construction shown in FIG. 2, but with the counterweight mounted in second, third and fourth adjusted positions, respectively;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged broken-away portion of FIG. 5 showing in greater detail the manner of mounting the L-shaped member on the main frame and the counterweight on the L-Shaped member in its third adjusted position; and

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the lower portions of the construction of FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the counterweight is mounted in third and fourth adjusted positions, respectively.

Referring now to the drawings, and first to FIGURE 1, numeral 5 designates an electric counterbalanced lift truck of generally conventional design including a lifting mast assembly 6 having a lifting carriage and fork 7 mounted for vertical movement thereon, forward drive wheels 8, rear steer wheels 9, an operators station and control means 10, and a battery compartment 11 formed within the body, main frame and adjustable counterweight construction of the truck. The counterweight is shown at numeral 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 7, the illustrated rear portion of the main frame 14 comprises a battery support floor 16, a transverse rear vertical frame member 18, and a pair of inner transversely spaced, longitudinally extending frame members 15, one of which is shown, secured at the rear ends to frame member 18, at the upper edges to floor members 16 and at the forward ends to a pair of outer transversely spaced, longitudinally extending main frame members 17 by means of a transverse frame member 19. A bracket assembly 20 is also a part of the rigid and standardized main frame assem- 3 lbly shown and comprises a inverted right triangular gusset members 21 secured along the vertical legs thereof to the rear surfaces of member 18 and having secured to the longitudinal legs thereof a rearwardly extending support plate 22. Four openings 24, three of which are shown, are drilled through plate 22 at suitable locations intermediate gusset members 21. Other parts of the illustrated portion of the main frame assembly need not be described in detail herein inasmuch :as they are unnecessary to a complete understanding of the invention.

An auxiliary transverse frame member 26 of generally L-shaped cross section having a vertical leg portion 28, a horizontal leg portion 30 and four threaded holes 32 in the horizontal leg portion, is adapted to be mounted on plate 22 of bracket assembly 20 so that the threaded openings '32 are in alignment with drilled openings 24 in either of two positions of L-shaped member 26, viz., with the vertical leg portion 28 mounted toward the frame 14 and in the vertical plane of frame member 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, or with leg portion 28 turned 180 so that it is mounted away from the frame 14 and out of the plane of member 18 as shown in FIGS. 5 through 9. In either position of the L-shaped member 26 the aforesaid openings 24 and 32 are aligned when the member 26 is located properly in a transverse direction and a notch 33 formed between the legs of the member 26 abuts a shoulder 35 formed at the upper rear corner of frame member 18 above support plate 22. Bolts 34 secure the L-shaped member 26 to support plate 22 of bracket assembly 20 in either afore-mentioned position, member 26 thereby functioning as an adjustable auxiliary portion of the main frame 14 of the truck.

The counterweight 12 comprises a heavy metal casting or forging of the configuration shown in the drawings which is adapted to counterbalance in a well-known manner loads carried by the fork carriage assembly 7. A U-shaped bracket 56 is secured to the lower inner central portion of the forging 55 and has a base 57 disposed as shown with a central opening 58 therein. A pair of transversely spaced countersunk openings 54 are located in the forging above and in straddling relation to opening 58.

The counterweight 12 is attached to the frame.14 of the lift truck by means of three bolt and threaded bushing assemblies 36. A pair of transversely spaced threaded openings 50 are located in the vertical leg portion 28 of the L-shaped frame member 26 and a threaded opening 52 is located centrally of the rear vertical frame member 18. In order to assemble the counterweight on the main frame of the truck the counterweight is positioned relative to frame member 18 and vertical leg portion 28 such that opening '58 is in alignment with opening 52, and openings 54 are located in alignment with openings 50, whereupon the bolt and bushing assemblies 36 are projected through the three aligned openings and tightened to secure the counterweight to the main and auxiliary frame members of the truck. Each bolt and threaded bushing assembly 36 comprises either a short bushing 38 having internal and external threads or a relatively long threaded bushing 40 of the same type in association with either a short bolt 42 or a relatively long bolt 44. A lock nut 46 is used as a locking member in conjunction with the short threaded bushing 38 and a set screw 48 is used as a locking member in conjunction with the long threaded bushing 40. The pair of threaded openings 58 in vertical leg portion 28 of L-shaped member 26 and the threaded opening 52 in frame 18 are each adapted to receive either the short bushing 38 or the long bushing 40, depending upon the desired adjusted position of the counterweight relative to the truck frame, as will be described in detail below. By use of various combinations of the above described bolt and bushing assemblies 36 in combination with either of the two described positions pair of transversely spaced of L-shaped frame member 26 it is possible to provide four difierent longitudinally adjusted positions of the counterweight 12 in relation to the main frame portion 14 of the truck.

In the first adjusted position of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the counterweight 12 is located nearest to the frame with the L-shaped frame member 26 secured to bracket 20 such that the vertical leg portion 28 is toward the frame 14. The counterweight 12 is attached to the vertical leg portion 28 of member 26 by means of a pair of the bolt and threaded bushing assemblies 36 which comprise the short bolt 42, the short bushing 38 and the lock nut 46. Each bolt 42 extends loosely through one of the countersunk openings 54 and threadedly through one of the bushings 68 which is threadedly mounted in one of the openings 58. Lock nuts 46 are then connected to the end portions of bolts 42 for retaining the upper end of the counterweight in position on the L-shaped member 26. Base portion 57 of counterweight bracket 56 is located in abutment with vertical frame member 18 in this first adjusted position and is connected thereto by means of a single bolt and bushing assembly 36 which also comprises a short bolt 42, a short bushing 38 and a lock nut 46. Bolt 42 extends loosely through opening 58 and threadedly engages bushing 38 which is mounted in threaded opening 52 of frame member 18, the assembly being retained in position by a lock nut 46.

It will be observed that each of the openings 54 and 58 are larger in diameter than the shanks of bolts 42 which pass therethrough, thereby providing a means for adjusting the position of the counterweight vertically and/or horizontally and/or angularly in any direction relative to the vertical main and auxiliary frame portions 18 and 28 within the limitations of the loose fit provided between the shanks of the bolts and the respective openings. In any given adjusted vertical plane position of the counterweight in the first adjusted longitudinal position thereof relative to the frame, the bolt and bushing assemblies are tightened to maintain such adjusted vertical plane position by frictionally holding the counterweight in said adjusted vertical plane position. By thus providing also for a small amount of adjustment of the counterweight in any direction in a vertical plane, the manufacture of parts of the invention is substantially simplified in that, for example, greater tolerance may be permitted in the location of openings 50, 52, 54 and 58. This same means of adjustment of the counterweight in a vertical plane is provided in each of the four longitudinally adjusted positions thereof.

In the second adjusted position shown in FIG. 4, counterweight 12 is located somewhat longitudinally rearwardly of the first adjusted position thereof. In this second position vertical leg portion 28 is mounted toward the frame 14 the same as in FIG. 2, and the long Y threaded bushings 40' are used in place of the short bushings 38. A set screw 48 is threadedly connected internally of the right hand end of each long bushing 48' and abuts the end of each short bolt 42, thus locking each bolt and bushing assembly in adjusted position. Otherwise the bolt and bushing assemblies are the same as in the first adjusted position of the counterweight. Base portion 57 of channel member 56 is held rigidly in position between the head of lower bolt 42 and the end of bushing 40.

In the third adjusted position of counterweight 12, shown in FIG. 5, the L-shaped frame member 26 is rotated so that vertical leg portion 28 is located away from frame 14', as described previously. The counterweight is attached to vertical leg portion 28 by means of a pair of bolt and bushing assemblies 36, each comprising the short bolt 40, the short threaded bushing 38 and the lock nut 46, the same as described above in respect of the first adjusted position. The U-shaped bracket portion 56 of counterweight 12 is attached to frame member 18 by a bolt and threaded bushing assembly 36 comprising a long bolt 44, a short bushing 38 and a lock nut 46 secured to that end of bolt 44 which extends beyond the end of bushing 38. A U-shaped spacer member 60 straddles channel member 56 and has the ends of the legs thereof located in abutment with the rear surface of the counterweight. Spacer member 60 has an opening 62 located in base portion 61 thereof which is located in alignment with openings '58 and 52 for receiving long bolt 44 which holds the assembly in the third position of adjustment.

A modification of the construction for the third position of adjustment of the counterweight is shown in FIGURE 8 wherein all parts of the assembly are the same as in FIGURE 5 except that an internally threaded sleeve member 63 of predetermined length is threadedly positioned on bolt 44 such that tightening of the lower bolt and bushing assembly causes sleeve 63 to be located in fixed abutment with the base 57 of channel member 56 and with the inner end face of short bushing 38 within opening 52. In this modification of the construction, sleeve member 63 performs the same spacing function as U-shaped spacer member 60 of FIGURE 5, as will be readily apparent. Preferably, the inner end face of the lower short bushing 38 is located so that in the FIGURE 8 construction this end face tightens against the right-hand end of sleeve 63, whereby to allow both fore and aft movement of the counterweight by varying the distance bushing 38 is threaded into hole 52 as explained above.

In the fourth adjusted position, shown in FIG. 6, the counterweight is located furthest from frame 14. The construction utilized in this position is the same .as that of FIG. 5 except that long bushing 40 and set screw 48 is utilized in each bolt and bushing assembly instead of the short bushing 38 and lock nut 46 of FIG. 5 In this position U-shaped spacer member 60 is held rigidly between the rear vertical portion of the counterweight and the inner end face of the lower long bushing 40. The upper bolt and bushing assemblies are located and assembled the same as in FIG. 4.

In FIGURE 9 a modification of the construction used in the fourth adjusted position is illustrated wherein sleeve member 63 replaces spacer member 60 in the lower bolt and bushing assembly of FIGURE 6, sleeve 63 being held rigidly in position between :base portion 57 of channel member 56 and the inner end face of long bushing 40 in a manner similar to the construction of FIGURE 8.

In addition to the four major longitudinally adjusted positions, a minor longitudinal adjustment is provided in each of the four major positions by varying the position of the long bushings 40 or short bushings 38 in openings 50 and 52. For example, in the first adjusted position, while it will be appreciated that normally base 57 of member 58 abuts the side of rear vertical frame member 18 and forging 55 abuts vertical leg 2-8, bushings 38 can be threaded into openings 50 and 52 to the point where they extend past the side of vertical leg 28 and rear vertical frame member 18. Thus the forging 55 and base portion 57 will abut the ends of bushings 38, thereby being held away from abutment with vertical leg 28 and rear vertical frame member 18. The counterweight 12 also can be adjusted in a similar manner in the other major adjusted positions. While the counterweight 12 can only be moved longitudinally away from the frame by the minor adjustment in the first adjusted position, both fore and aft longitudinal movement of counterweight 12 can be obtained by the minor adjustment in the remaining adjusted positions, except in the third adjusted position of FIGURE 5 wherein U-shaped spacer member 60 is used which allows only rearward adjustment from the position illustrated, as in the first adjusted position. However, it will be appreciated that by altering the mounting arrangement of counterweight 12 so that the bushings normally project a short distance past the face of auxiliary frame member 26 and rear vertical frame member 18, for

example, both fore and aft movement of counterweight 12 can be obtained by the minor adjustment in all of the major adjusted positions.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that in the actual design of an adjustable counterweight construction in accordance with the present invention it is important that the length of the various parts of the plurality of bolt and bushing assemblies 36, as well as of U-shaped spacer member 60 of FIGURES 5 and 6 and sleeve member 63 of FIGURES 8 and 9, be properly designed so that the various parts comprising said assemblies and spacer members he interchangeable as specified above in respect of the various adjusted positions of the counterweight. In a proper design, which will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description, the counterweight is preferably located in a substantially vertical plane in each of the four adjusted positions thereof relative to the main frame, and in each such adjusted position the respective bolt and threaded bushing assemblies are tightened so that the counterweight is held in rigid relationship to the main and auxiliary frame members of the truck.

To sum up the construction of the present invention as it may be used in an electric lift truck, the first adjusted position of the counterweight in which it is located most closely adjacent to the rear vertical frame member, thereby providing the smallest available battery compartment and the shortest counterbalance moment arm, is obtained by having the L-shaped frame member 26 attached to the bracket 22 with the vertical leg portion located toward the main frame, and connecting the counterweight to said vertical leg and to the rear vertical frame member 18 by means of three short bolt and threaded bushing assemblies. The second adjusted position is obtained with the L-shaped member located the same as in the first adjusted position, and connecting the counterweight to the vertical leg thereof and to the rear vertical frame member by means of three long threaded bushings and three short bolts. The third adjusted position is obtained by reversing the position of the L-shaped member, connecting the counterweight to the vertical leg thereof by means of two short bolt and threaded bushing assemblies, and connecting the counterweight to the rear vertical frame member by means of the short threaded bushing and the long bolt, while providing a spacer member 60 or 63 in association with the latter bolt and bushing assembly. Finally, the fourth adjusted position in which the counterweight is located furthest from the main frame member, thereby providing the largest available battery compartment and the longest counterbalance moment arm, is obtained vw'th the L'shaped member located the same as in the third adjusted position, connecting the counterweight thereto by means of two short bolts and long threaded bushings, and connecting the counterweight to the rear vertical frame member by means of the long threaded bushing and bolt assembly, again in association with the spacer member 60 or 63.

It will now be appreciated that I have provided in the particular embodiments disclosed herein a lift truck frame construction which is readily adjustable in size in the use of a minimum number of interchangeable parts, whereby to provide, for example, a battery compartment of variable size and a counterbalancing moment arm which is variable in length, all within a single standard basic design of the frame and truck.

It will, of course, be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications and changes in the construction and relative arrangement of parts may be made without department from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the principles of the invention will be readily applicable to other vehicles and constructions than that particularly exemplified herein in connection with lift trucks. Also, the invention is not intended to be limited to a construction in accordance with the principles thereof wherein four adjustments in the position of one member relative to a second member is afforded, inasmuch as the concept of the invention is readily applicable to constructions in which a first member, such as the counterweight hereof, is adjustable relative to a second member, such as the main frame herein, in more or less than the four positions of adjustment specified above in detail for exemplary purposes.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle having a counterweight and a frame, means for securing the counterweight to one end of the frame at a plurality of intervals therefrom comprising reversible auxiliary frame means connectible selectively to the said one end of the frame in reversible first and second positions, and means for securing the counterweight to said auxiliary frame means in either of said positions.

2. In a device having a counterweight and a frame, means for securing the counterweight to the frame at fixed intervals therefrom comprising reversible auxiliary frame means connectible selectively to the frame in reversible first and second positions, and threaded means for securing the counterweight to said auxiliary frame means in either of said positions.

3. Means as claimed in claim 2, wherein said threaded means includes a bushing threadedly connected to said auxiliary frame member and other means threadedly engaging said bushing and connected to the counterweight.

4. In a device having a counterweight and a frame, means for securing the counterweight to the frame at a plurality of intervals therefrom comprising auxiliary frame means having a first longitudinally extending portion and a second portion substantially transverse to the first portion, said first portion being connectible selectively to the frame such that said second portion is located either relatively adjacent to or spaced from the frame, and means for securing the counterweight to said second portion in either adjusted position thereof.

5. In a vehicle having a counterweight and a frame, means for securing the counterweight to the frame at fixed intervals therefrom comprising an auxiliary frame member having vertical and horizontal leg portions, said horizontal leg portion being connectible to the frame in first and second adjusted positions, said vertical leg portion being located in relatively close spaced relation to the frame in said first position and relatively distant spaced relation in said second position, and means for securing the counterweight to said vertical leg portion in either said first or second positions thereof, whereby to vary the effective size of the frame between said first and second positions.

6. In a lift struck having a frame and a counterweight which cooperates with the frame to form an adjustable compartment therein, means for securing the counterweight to the frame at fixed intervals therefrom comprising auxiliary frame means having first and second portions connectible to the frame and to the counterweight, respectively, in first and second adjusted positions of said first and second portions such that a compartment formed between the frame and counterweight increases in volume between said first and second adjusted positions.

7. In a vehicle'having a frame and a counterweight, means for securing the counterweight to the frame at fixed intervals therefrom comprising an upright frame means, an auxiliary frame means supported from said upright frame means selectively in either a first position wherein a portion of said auxiliary means is located in juxtaposition to said upright frame means or in a second position wherein said portion is located in spaced relation to said upright frame means, means for securing the counterweight to said portion of said auxiliary frame means in either of said adjusted positions, and other means for securing said counterweight to said upright frame means in either adjusted position of said auxiliary frame means.

8. A combination as claimed in claim 7, wherein said securing means and said other securing means comprise a plurality of threaded assemblies adjustable in length for securing the counterweight to the upright frame and auxiliary means in either said first or second adjusted position.

9. A combination as claimed in claim 8, wherein said securing means and said other securing means combine a plurality of bolt and threaded bushing elements which may be assembled selectively for securing the counterweight to the auxiliary frame means and to the upright frame means in a plurality of positions spaced longitudinally of the upright frame means.

10. In an electric vehicle having a fixed frame portion, a movable frame portion and a battery compartment formed by the fixed and movable frame portions, means for adjusting the position of the movable frame portion relative to the fixed frame portion comprising an auxiliary frame portion interposed between the fixed and movable frame portions and adjustable between first and second positions wherein the auxiliary frame portion is disposed relatively toward or away from the fixed frame portion, and means for securing the movable frame portion to the auxiliary frame portion in the first and second positions thereof and the auxiliary frame portion to the fixed frame portion, whereby to provide a battery compartment which varies in size between the adjusted positions of the auxiliary frame portion.

11. In an electrically powered vehicle having a battery compartment adjustable in length, a fixed vehicle frame portion, a reversible auxiliary vehicle frame portion connectible selectively to the fixed vehicle frame portion in first and second reversible adjustment positions, and a movable vehicle frame portion connectible to the auxiliary vehicle frame portion in either adjusted position thereof, said fixed and movable frame portions together forming a vehicle battery compartment which is elongated between the first and second adjusted positions of said auxiliary and movable frame portions.

12. A vehicle having an adjustable main frame comprising a fixed frame portion, a reversible auxiliary frame portion, and a movable frame portion, said auxiliary frame portion being connectible rigidly to both said fixed and movable frame portions in first and second reversible adjustment positions wherein said movable frame portion is spaced from said fixed frame portion in first and second longitudinally spaced relation whereby to form with said fixed frame portion a vehicle compartment of variable size.

13. A lift truck having an adjustable frame comprising a fixed frame portion, an auxiliary frame member, counterweight means, and means for securing the counterweight means to the fixed frame portion and to the auxiliary frame member in a plurality of adjustment positions, said auxiliary frame member having an adjustable element supported from the fixed frame portion either in first or second longitudinally spaced relation, said securing means being adapted to secure said counterweight means to said fixed frame portion and to said adjustable element in either adjusted position of said auxiliary frame member.

14. A lift truck as claimed in claim 13 wherein said securing means for securing said counterweight means to said auxiliary frame member includes a pair of transversely spaced threaded assemblies extending through a portion of the counterweight means and through said adjustable element in either adjusted position thereof, and other threaded means disposed below and intermediate said pair of transversely spaced means for connecting said counterweight means to said fixed frame portion.

15. A lift truck as claimed in claim 14 wherein said auxiliary frame member comprises a longitudinal portion supported from said fixed frame portion and a portion essentially transverse to said longitudinal portion and receiving said pair of transversely spaced threaded assemblies for supporting said counterweight means, said auxiliary frame member being selectively located during assembly of the truck with the transverse portion thereof either juxtaposed to the fixed frame portion or spaced longitudinally therefrom.

16. A lift truck as claimed in claim 13 wherein said securing means comprises in assembly a plurality of triangularly related threaded bolt and bushing assemblies for connecting the counterweight means to the auxiliary frame member and fixed frame portion in at least first and second longitudinally spaced relation from the fixed frame portion.

17. A lift truck as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fixed frame portion, said auxiliary frame member and said counterweight means together form a battery cmpartment adjustable in size.

18. A lift truck as claimed in claim 14 wherein a standardized adjustable lift truck frame construction is provided, said threaded assemblies and said other threaded means comprising a plurality of interchangeable parts varying in size and assembled selectively to provide in combination with said auxiliary frame member a plurality of longitudinally adjustable positions of the counterweight means relative to the fixed frame portion.

19. A lift truck as claimed in claim 18 wherein each threaded assembly and other threaded means comprises an internally threaded bushing of predetermined length 10 and a threaded bolt of predetermined length threadedly connected internally of said bushing.

20. A lift truck as claimed in claim 19 wherein the bushings are threadedly secured externally to the auxiliary frame member and the fixed frame portion, and each bolt associated therewith extends loosely through an opening in the counterweight means and into threaded connection with the corresponding bushing, each opening in said counterweight means being enlarged to provide for adjustment of said counterweight means in a vertical lane.

21. A lift truck as claimed in claim 13 wherein said auxiliary frame member comprises an L-shaped member connectible to the fixed frame portion either with the upright adjustable element thereof disposed adjacent to or spaced from the fixed frame portion.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,692 Brown June 13, 1950 2,969,991 Ulinski Jan. 31, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 842,590 Great Britain July 27, 1960 

